RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 30, 2017) – A Virginia bill that would remove sales taxes from some purchases of gold and silver unanimously passed the House last week. The legislation would take an important first step toward encouraging its regular use as currency and breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. A bipartisan coalition of delegates…
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 30, 2017) – A bill introduced in the New York Assembly would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. The proposed law would not only protect privacy in New York, but would also hinder one aspect of…
JACKSON, Miss. (Jan. 29, 2016) – A Mississippi bill would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, nullifying in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. It is accompanied by legislation to fully decriminalize marijuana as well. Introduced by Sen. Derrick T. Simmons (D-Greenville), Senate Bill 2378 (SB2378) would “ensure that physicians…
ATLANTA, Ga. (Jan. 29, 2017) – A so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill filed in the Georgia House would make it legal for most Georgians to carry a firearm without a license, and foster an environment hostile to federal gun control. A coalition of six Republican representatives introduced House Bill 156 (HB156) on Jan. 26. The legislation…
HONOLULU, Hawaii, (Jan. 29, 2017) – Bills introduced in the Hawaii legislature would legalize industrial hemp production in the state, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition of the plant in practice. A coalition of five Democrat senators introduced Senate Bill 163 (SB163) on Jan. 20. The legislation would remove industrial hemp from the state’s…
JUNEAU, Alaska, (Jan. 29, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Alaska House would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in…
LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 27, 2016) – A Nebraska bill would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, effectively nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Introduced by Sen. Anna Wishart (N-Lincoln) and 10 co-sponsors, LB622 would allow any “Nebraska resident who has been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition by a participating…
SANTA FE, N.M. (Jan. 27, 2017) – A bill introduced in the New Mexico Senate would limit the warrantless use of surveillance drones. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) introduced Senate Bill 167…
CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 27, 2017) – A bill introduced in the New Hampshire House would close a loophole that allows state and local police to circumvent stringent state asset forfeiture laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep, Michael Sylvia (R-Belmont) and Rep. John Burt (R-Goffstown) introduced House Bill 614 (HB614) on Jan. 5.…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 27, 2017) – A bill introduced in the South Carolina House would establish the South Carolina Industrial Hemp Program. Passage would ease some regulations, expand the market and further nullify federal prohibition in effect. Rep. Michael Pitts (R-Laurens) and Rep. Russell Ott (D-St. Matthews) introduced House Bill 3559 (H3559) on Jan. 24.…